FoundersCard Review - Is It Worth Signing Up? [2023]

The FoundersCard is an interesting beast. In a world of credit cards, points, and miles, the FoundersCard can seem a little lost. It isn’t a credit card — you can’t use it to pay for things — and it’s not going to earn you any points and miles. But it has a number of intriguing benefits that may make it worthwhile to the savvy traveler.

FoundersCard styles itself as a “lifestyle” card catering to small businesses. What does this mean, exactly? Well, it charges a hefty annual fee, and in return you get a number of benefits, including things like hotel elite status, cheaper airline tickets, and even cell phone plan discounts.

In this guide we’re going to break down all the different perks you’ll receive as a FoundersCard holder and whether it’s worth the expensive annual fee.

Table of contents

What Is the FoundersCard?
How Much Does the FoundersCard Cost?
What Benefits Does the FoundersCard Offer?
FoundersCard Elite
Is the FoundersCard Worth It?
FoundersCard Alternatives
Final Thoughts

Table of Contents

What Is the FoundersCard?
How Much Does the FoundersCard Cost?
What Benefits Does the FoundersCard Offer?
FoundersCard Elite
Is the FoundersCard Worth It?
FoundersCard Alternatives
Final Thoughts

What Is the FoundersCard?

As we mentioned above, the FoundersCard is a membership card that grants you access to a number of elite statuses and discounts, and even a few free things. Within the world of points and miles it’s certainly unique because, although it offers many of the benefits granted via premium travel credit cards, it is not in and of itself a credit card.

That’s not to say that it can’t offer value, however, and especially if you’re averse to owning credit cards, the FoundersCard can be an option to receive some of those high-end lifestyle perks anyway.

Interestingly, the FoundersCard isn’t just open to everybody — you’ll have to apply for it just like any other card and approval is not instant. It can take up to 2 business days to hear back regarding your application.

Founderscard application submitted — Image Credit: FoundersCard

How Much Does the FoundersCard Cost?

This depends. The published annual fee for the FoundersCard is $595 per year with a $95 initiation fee, which is pretty high. However, if you can properly take advantage of the benefits FoundersCard offers, it’ll more than pay for itself.

What Benefits Does the FoundersCard Offer?

The FoundersCard actually offers tons of different benefits, although you can’t view them directly on its website unless you’re a member. Instead, you’ll need to sign up for a “preview,” and FoundersCard will send you an email with a link to its benefits page.

That’s a hassle, so we’ve collated all of the benefits we think are most useful, broken down by each category. Let’s take a look.

Hotel Benefits

Hotel del Coronado Curio Collection by Hilton exterior — Gold elite status entitles you to room upgrades, even at Hilton’s famed Hotel Del Coronado. Image Credit: Hilton

Most cardholders will probably find their true value in the FoundersCard’s excellent benefits for hotels:

Hilton Gold Status — Gold status includes free breakfast, increased bonus points, room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, and complimentary premium internet.
Marriott Platinum Elite Status Challenge — After 15 paid nights in a 90 day period, you’ll receive Platinum Elite status that includes free breakfast, room upgrades, increased bonus points, early check-in, and late checkout.
Hotel Chain Partnerships — These partnerships will get you discounts and special privileges (like free breakfast) at certain properties:
- Four Seasons
- Kempinski Hotels
- Mandarin Oriental
- Omni Hotels & Resorts
- Park Hyatt
- Peninsula Hotels
- The Ritz-Carlton
- Rosewood Hotel Group
- W Hotels

Now, you may be wondering if the benefits mentioned above are actually any better than what you can with any other statuses and credit cards you have. The answer is yes — they definitely can be.

Let’s take a look at the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas. Here’s the standard member rate when booking a basic room at the Waldorf:

Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas Hilton site — Image Credit: Hilton

$1,000 for 3 nights is pretty steep. At this rate, you won’t receive any additional benefits unless you’re a Hilton Honors elite member.

Fortunately, this hotel also happens to be on Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts (FH&R) page. If you’re not familiar with FH&R, it’s a program available to those who hold Amex’s premium cards, including The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 150,000 points with the Amex Platinum card! The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Its main attraction lies in the additional benefits it’ll give you, which include room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, and a property amenity (usually something like a $100 food and beverage or spa credit). In this case, they’re offering a $125 property credit.

Here’s the same stay on Amex’s website — the Waldorf is currently offering your third night free via FH&R:

Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas rates — Image Credit: American Express

As you can see, you’ll get a pretty significant discount via Amex, especially when you consider the property credit. Unfortunately, bookings with Amex are considered third-party and thus are not considered eligible to earn bonus points or elite night credit, nor will your elite status with the hotel be recognized (some people have still had success with this, but your mileage may vary).

Now let’s take a look at the rate for FoundersCard members:

Foundercard Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas — Image Credit: Hilton

FoundersCard rates include a $25 per day property credit and reduced daily resort fees ($39 vs. $45). Your total out-of-pocket cost will be less with FoundersCard, but the amount of property credit you’ll receive on a 3-night stay is $75 vs. $125 with Amex.

The most important thing to note here is that this rate is bookable via Hilton’s website. That means it’s eligible for all elite night credits and bonus point earnings. Your Hilton Honors elite status will also be recognized, which entitles you to free breakfast, room upgrades, etc. That’s well worth the slightly reduced property credit.

This is true for all the hotel chains that have partnered with FoundersCard. Stays at The Ritz-Carlton will earn you Marriott Bonvoy points, stays at the Park Hyatt will earn you World of Hyatt points, etc. This is especially valuable if you’re trying to chase elite status with any of these hotel chains.

Booking Hotels Using Shopping Portals

Another big benefit to booking hotels using the FoundersCard rate is that because you’re booking directly on the hotel website you’ll be able to go through a cash-back portal to earn extra rewards on your purchases.

CashBack Monitor is a great website to check which portals are offering the highest return, and you’ll often see increased bonuses for holidays or other special events. If it’s available, Rakuten is an especially good site to use since it allows you to earn American Express Membership Rewards rather than straight cash-back, effectively doubling the value of your return since we value Amex points at 2.2 cents each.

As an example, at the time of writing, Rakuten is offering 2.5% cash-back on hotels booked with Hilton. On the above stay, you’d earn $19.10 in cash by booking with FoundersCard. If you choose, however, to earn Amex points, you’d receive 1,910 points, which we value at $42.02. This isn’t something you’d be able to do when booking via Amex’s website.

Caesars Rewards Diamond Elite Status

Las Vegas Strip Paris Bellagio Caesars — Caesars Diamond status can save you big bucks in Las Vegas. Image Credit: Stephen Leonardi via Unsplash

Apart from the above-mentioned hotel benefits, there’s actually 1 other perk FoundersCard offers that can be vastly more valuable.

As a FoundersCard holder, you’ll receive complimentary Diamond elite status with Caesars Rewards. We’ve talked before about why Caesars elite status is so valuable, but here’s a quick breakdown:

Complimentary 4-night stay at Atlantis, Paradise Island in the Bahamas
Complimentary valet and self-parking
Waived resort fees on all hotel stays
15% off best available room rates
2 free show tickets each month
Priority lines at hotel check-in, restaurants, the Caesars Rewards Center, and casino cages
72-hour guaranteed room availability
$100 annual celebration dinner or $50 UberEats credit (after earning 100 Tier Credits)
20% discount at casino shops
20% discount on Norwegian cruises
Access to the VIP reservation phone line
Access to the Laurel Lounge (will cost 1,000 Reward Credits per entry)

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to visit Las Vegas, you’ll know how valuable waived resort fees and complimentary parking can be — especially since the rates for each hover around $40 per night. That’s $80 a day you’d save as a Diamond elite member!

Hot Tip: Do note that this status is for Diamond — not Diamond Elite, which is a higher tier and cannot be matched.

And while there are definitely additional charges associated with your free stay at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, you can save over $1,000 on your stay, where room rates hover around $200 per night:

Atlantis Paradise Island hotel cost — You’ll still be on the hook for resort fees, but your room will be free! Image Credit: Atlantis, Paradise Island

The $100 celebration dinner is valid at tons of Caesars restaurants, too, and not just in Las Vegas. This is a great way to treat yourself to a nice dinner without feeling guilty.

Having elite status with Caesars also means you can status match over to the following chains:

Caesars U.K. — Diamond Caesars members can match their elite status to Caesars U.K.
Eldorado — Eldorado and Caesars also have a reciprocal partnership; you can link and match your Caesars status to both Fan Club and Club GVC
Turning Stone — Diamond elite members can match their statuses over to Turning Stone Resort Casino for Onyx status
Wyndham — Caesars and Wyndham have a reciprocal partnership, which means you can match your Caesars Diamond status directly over to Wyndham Rewards Diamond elite status

Bottom Line: The hotel benefits offered by FoundersCard can be extremely valuable, especially if you take advantage of your Caesars Diamond status.

Airline Benefits

United Boeing 787 Dreamliner Polaris Business Class Empty — The FoundersCard offers discounts on several big airlines, including United. Image Credit: Chris Hassan

Depending on how often you fly, you may be able to find some real value out of the benefits FoundersCard offers. These are mainly small discounts on airlines, though a recent addition means you’ll get 2 different elite statuses thrown into the mix.

FoundersCard is also known for its regularly offered status challenges with different airlines, which will help fast-track you to elite status. Just recently, for example, FoundersCard and American Airlines held a status match challenge for cardholders.

Airline Discounts

British Airways — Up to 10%
Cathay Pacific — Up to 15%
Qantas Airways — Up to 25%
Singapore Airlines — Up to 15%
United Airlines — Up to 8%

Airline Elite Status

Cathay Pacific Silver Status — Good for 1 year, gets you lounge access and preferred seating, among other benefits
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver Status — Achieved after 1 flight with a fast-track option to Gold status

Rental Car Benefits

There are a few different benefits for rental cars, though rental car companies are a sort of hit-or-miss when it comes to renting directly. These benefits may score you a discount over the standard rate, but other websites, such as Autoslash, may be able to find you an even cheaper rate — and though you won’t get a free upgrade or bonus points, the price difference is often stark enough to make up for it.

Avis Car Rental — Free upgrade and a 15% discount
Empire CLS — 15% discount
Hertz — Gold Plus elite status and a 20% discount
Audi on demand — 15% discount
SIXT Rent a Car — Platinum status and a 15% discount
Zipcar for Business — Up to 15% discount

Hot Tip: Pay for your car with a credit card with rental car insurance to save a bunch of money.

Small Business Benefits

Like we said before, the FoundersCard is targeted towards small-business owners, and that’s obvious when you take a look at the benefits it offers for small businesses. There are tons, but here are a few highlights:

20,000 fee-free dollars with Stripe
40% off Dell everyday products
Up to 40% off select Think and Lenovo products
50% off the first annual subscription of Salesforce Essentials
Up to 47% off UPS shipping
Save 20% on Shopify plans
Up to 55% off at Office Depot
1 year complimentary of Phone.com‘s Basic Users Plan
30% off plan upgrades for the first 12 months at Slack
$150 off the first month of any plan for new signups at Zirtual, and an ongoing 10% discount
Waived membership fees for Fiverr’s Business Platform Membership for 2 years
6 months free of Zendesk Support and Sales CRM
40% off Dropbox Business or Plus annual subscription
50% discount on a 2x weekly Oasis membership from Industrious
20% off Image & Footage Subscription Plans at Shutterstock
$500k in revenue for free on the Chargebee Launch Plan at Chargebee

Miscellaneous Benefits

Wheels Up private aircraft — Image Credit: Wheels Up

Most of the remaining benefits are lifestyle benefits — things that’ll make your life easier, like free fitness classes and discounts at certain stores. Here are a few of the best:

15% off the monthly service charge of qualified personal wireless plans or up to $10 off per line, each month, for the Unlimited Elite plan at AT&T
Complimentary TripIt Pro Membership for 1 year
Up to 15% of Carey car service
30% to 45% discount on Medjet Memberships
15% discount at Sonos and Bang and Olufsen
30% discount at Adidas and Reebok
20% off the monthly membership at obé fitness
Wheels Up Connect Membership for $1,995

FoundersCard Elite

FoundersCard also has another level of membership — the FoundersCard Elite card offers additional benefits which may make it worth picking up — for at least 1 year. Pricing will vary based on your individual situation, though it can range from $995 to $295 per year. So what do you get for that extra cash?

Omni Select Guest Platinum elite status good for 1 year, offering room upgrades, evening turndown, late checkout, double earnings for award nights, and more
Hertz President’s Circle elite status
Avis President’s Club elite status
VIP hotel upgrades and amenities
$50,000 in fee-free payments on Stripe
5 hours per year in concierge services
$5,000 in Amazon Web Services (AWS) Activate credits
25% off Bang and Olufsen
Complimentary companion FoundersCard membership

The most intriguing benefit here is the free companion card. These cards are full-blown membership cards, which means whoever you give it to is going to get all the same benefits as you. This means they’ll have Caesars Diamond elite status, Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club Silver status, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver status, and more.

While previously the Founderscard Elite membership allowed you to grab the companion card as soon as you upgraded, they’ve since changed their terms. This is now only available upon renewal of your Elite membership — which means you’ll have to wait a year before being able to make this work.

Why is this important? Well, whether you choose to keep your elite card or not, your companion will have had the chance to match their Caesars Diamond status to Wyndham Diamond. Many lamented last year when Wyndham’s extremely generous status match program ended, meaning that the only way to acquire Wyndham/Caesars Diamond statuses was via credit card or actual hotel stays. The FoundersCard is a way around that.

Hot Tip: Once Caesars and Wyndham statuses have been matched, that elite status is permanent — so long as you time it correctly.

Don’t you want to go wild in Vegas with $200 in free dinners? How about combining your hotel stays for 8 free nights in the Bahamas every year? Then snagging the FoundersCard elite membership for at least a year is probably worth it.

Atlantis Paradise Island — You and your player 2 can combine hotel stays for 8 free nights each year at Atlantis, Paradise Island. Image Credit: Marriott

You can also opt to skip the FoundersCard Elite option and choose to instead pay $495 for a lifetime significant other membership. This is a 1-time fee and gives your Player 2 a free FoundersCard as long as you hold yours.

Is the FoundersCard Worth It?

We’ve outlined some of the biggest benefits here, but there are plenty more that the card offers. Of course, none of that means anything if you can’t extract any value from the perks. If you’re a small-business owner who is already using some of the services FoundersCard discounts, this card is a no-brainer.

The question becomes a little more difficult to answer if you’re not doing much business and even murkier if you already hold several credit cards that grant you similar benefits.

On the other hand, if you’re an AT&T user, plan on flying with a Oneworld airline sometime in the next year, want to combine discounted Dell products with a Dell statement credit, or think you can swing the Virgin Atlantic Silver or Gold elite status, there is a lot of value to be had here.

FoundersCard Alternatives

If you’re not feeling the FoundersCard, there are still ways you can get a lot of these benefits via credit cards that stack up pretty well against the FoundersCard for hotel and rental car benefits:

Amex Platinum card and Amex Business Platinum card — Upon enrollment: Complimentary Marriott and Hilton Gold elite status, Hertz Gold Circle elite status, Avis Preferred membership, and National Emerald Club Executive status (not to mention that the Platinum cards are also the best card for airport lounge access)
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card — Complimentary Hilton Gold elite status
Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Business Card — Complimentary Wyndham Diamond elite status that you can match to Caesars Diamond elite status

Final Thoughts

The FoundersCard isn’t a card for everyone — and it’s not meant to be.

Some will undoubtedly wonder why you’d pay an annual fee for a card that won’t even earn you points and miles, but the honest truth is that if you can make use of even just a few of these benefits, the FoundersCard can certainly be worth your time.

Whether you’re looking for free room upgrades, airline discounts, or fee-free payments via Stripe, FoundersCard is there to help you out, all packaged nicely in a luxurious metal card.

The information regarding the FoundersCard was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

The information regarding The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the United Club℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Featured Image Credit: FoundersCard

Frequently asked questions

Is the FoundersCard worth it?

If you can make use of just a few of the FoundersCard's benefits, it can definitely be worth the annual fee.

What is the FoundersCard?

FoundersCard is an application-only membership card that offers high-end lifestyle and travel perks along with small business benefits.

What is FoundersCard Elite?

FoundersCard Elite is the highest tier of FoundersCard and provides a number of increased benefits, including more elite status options and a free companion card.

How do I cancel my FoundersCard?

You'll have to email FoundersCard and cancel your membership in writing.

Is FoundersCard a credit card?

Although it has an annual fee, the FoundersCard is not a credit card. You can't use it to make purchases or earn points, though it will give you elite statuses and perks like some premium travel credit cards.

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About Carissa Rawson

Carissa is a native Californian whose taste for travel began during her 7 years in the U.S. Air Force. A former Arabic translator, her first serious journey overseas was to Jordan, where a 6-month deployment taught her a lot about people and a little about award travel. What started as a curiosity quickly became an obsession, and soon she had launched her own website teaching others how to travel for free.

Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.

42 comments

Asaf July 2, 2021
Can you please elaborate on the hot tip?
“Once Caesars and Wyndham statuses have been matched, that elite status is permanent — so long as you time it correctly.
This means that for your $295 you’ll get a spare $100 celebration dinner and a 4-night stay in the Bahamas each year. Forever.”
I’ll sign up for sure if that it’s true…
Thanks!
Reply
- Carissa Rawson July 21, 2021
  Hey! We’ve gone ahead and detailed how to do it here for you: How To Maximize Hotel Elite Status Matches With Hyatt, M life, Caesars & Wyndham
  Reply
  - George McGowan September 1, 2021
    I have the same question about this “You can also opt to skip the FoundersCard Elite option and choose to instead pay $495 for a lifetime significant other membership. This is a 1-time fee and gives your Player 2 a free FoundersCard as long as you hold yours.” and the link you provided is broken. Please explain?
    Reply
    - Jarrod West September 10, 2021
      Hi George,
      In order to purchase the lifetime significant other membership, you just need to contact the FoundersCard team directly and let them know you’d like to do so.
      Reply
  - Nigel January 27, 2022
    Hi Carissa! The link is broken!
    How To Maximize Hotel Elite Status Matches With Hyatt, M life, Caesars & Wyndham
    Reply
    - Jarrod West January 28, 2022
      Hi Nigel,
      The link appears to be working fine for me. Try copying into your address bar: https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/hotels/hotel-elite-status-matches-hyatt-caesars-wyndham/
      Reply
- Brian Lee June 16, 2022
  You will get regular Diamond not a Diamond Elite
  Reply
Nick August 4, 2021
“$100,000 in Amazon Web Services (AWS) credits”
That isn’t true. If it were, everyone would get this card and mine crypto on AWS lol.
No other website is mentioning this perk. I don’t know where you got it from.
Reply
- Jarrod West August 5, 2021
  Hi Nick,
  That you for pointing out that error. The correct number is $5,000 in AWS credits, so we’ve updated the post to reflect that.
  Reply
Matt August 16, 2021
The benefits need amending now, you do not get diamond elite, you get basic diamond, and it does not include the Atlantis paradise island. here is the fineprint…
Please Note: Caesars Bluewaters Dubai and Atlantis Paradise Island benefit only valid for earned Tier Status (Diamond members earning at least 15,000 Tier Credits previous or current year). Diamond members that have earned less than 25,000 Tier Credits in 2021 may be charged for entry to Laurel Lounges. Diamond members that have earned at least 25,000 Tier Credits in 2021 and Seven Stars members will receive complimentary access.
Reply
- matt August 16, 2021
  The Fine Print
  Diamond upgrade valid through January 31, 2022. This upgrade does not include Diamond Plus or Diamond Elite benefits, and does not grant you tier credits.
  Reply
- Jarrod West September 10, 2021
  Hi Matt,
  We see where you are coming from, but strangely enough from what we can tell, it seems that the Founderscard website is wrong. The actual Caesars T&C disqualifies the Dubai benefit, but not the Bahamas. Data points from other sites specifically include the Bahamas and nowhere else on the internet except for the FoundersCard blurb says anything about the Bahamas being unavailable.
  Reply
Roberta November 29, 2021
Is there anyway for me to sign up for Caesars card on line, then have Founders card process it so I can use the Caesars benefit during my next trip to Vegas?
Reply
- Jarrod West December 7, 2021
  Hi Roberta,
  I’m not sure I understand your question? You would need to have the FoundersCard in order to receive Caesars Diamond status, not the Caesars card.
  Reply
Jennifer Zuraw December 21, 2021
Does this card give one access to airport lounges?
Reply
- Jarrod West December 22, 2021
  Hi Jennifer,
  No, the FoundersCard does not offer lounge access.
  Reply
Umesh January 9, 2022
Some of these benefits are available outside the founders card. Not worth it. Airline and hotel benefits – credit cards offer much better benefits. I didn’t renew.
Reply
Cary January 10, 2022
Hi,
I just joined and see most of the benefits under Elite, and not just the “regular” FoundersCard, based on what they are showing me in what I get with the $295.00 Elite up charge on their website.
Specifically, the Diamond status with Caesar is only showing if one elects to upgrade to Elite so not seeing most of the above benefits with the FoundersCard, but am showing with the FoundersCard Elite.
Reply
- Tom February 5, 2023
  Across the board, the initial fee to get the card was $395, not too far off from an AMEX account. But, unlike AMEX, which has superior customer service and works with you to resolve an issue you may have with a merchant, NOT the FoundersCard, just crickets. Plus, the constantly push and send e-mails about “upgrading” your account. Also, in their Marketing stuff ie. “Crap”, they talk about networking events, which are apparently only in major cities, like NYC & LA. When I called their NO customer service line, I asked if there were any events planned for the next year within a two hour drive from my business, there was a long silence, followed by a “NO”. I stated that was not acceptable and asked for a refund of my remaining membership. Not only did they not send me a refund my remaining membership fee, they tried to charge my AMEX for a renewal along with an “upgrade” account fee. My dispute with AMEX was handled properly by AMEX customer service and they reversed the “bogus” charge. I also reported them to the FTC for refusing to refund my outstanding membership fee, but still have not heard back from them. Someone needs to start a “Class Action” suit against these scammers, and sign me up
  Reply
Fionamac January 20, 2022
It’s very hard to cancel Founders Card once you sign up, then even harder to get a refund when they renew your subscription (without any warning).
Reply
Terry M. January 29, 2022
Has anyone actually taken advantage of the 4 night stay at Atlantis in the Bahamas? How “free” could it be, in reality? Also – how difficult is it to make it 8 nights instead of 4? Just curious.
Reply
- Gerald Bradner February 18, 2022
  That’s misinformation, the Diamond status only gets you the stay at Atlantis if you have 15,000 tier credits. It’s not automatically available to folks that get a FoundersCard.
  Reply
Stephen J March 3, 2022
I was a Founders Club member for 12 months as I was given a free promotion to try it. I happen to also be an American Express Platinum Card holder and have been for 20 years. I found the Founders Club to be not that valuable and I opted to not go ahead and pay for it. They offered few perks I could not get with AMEX FH&R. They did have some interesting parties at Miami Art Basel for example, Super Bowl etc. but the cost of these experiences was north of $10,000 and was not for me.
Reply
- Lee January 6, 2023
  I had the Founders Card a few years ago and came to the same realization. A person who travels even a moderate amount should already have available (without the card) many of the travel benefits the card offers. Combine that with benefits embedded in certain credit cards and a person is set. As for some of the discounts, seasoned travelers will have developed their own methods for those. The likely reader of this blog is probably not a candidate for the card.
  Reply
Bruce July 5, 2022
How do I get complimentary compassion? I’m an Elite member. Thank you.
Reply
- Jarrod West July 5, 2022
  Hi Bruce,
  I’m not sure what you mean by complimentary compassion?
  Reply
  - SA July 16, 2022
    Isn’t all compassion complimentary? 😉
    Reply
Mart Fisher July 10, 2022
You imply that these benefits are part of the Founders Card. They are not. After you sign up you actually find you need to upgrade to Elite for an additional $295- to get any of these benefits. It’s actually completely misleading.
Reply
- Jarrod West July 11, 2022
  Hi Mart,
  We’ve broken down the difference in benefits between the standard and Elite perks in the article, the Elite section is near the bottom of the post.
  Reply
SA July 16, 2022
Could you please explain the Stripe benefit(s) i.e. does it mean they’ll waive the 3% fee on the first $20K/$50K (depending on which FoundersCard level one picks) of charges each year one remains a member? That works out to $600/$1500. So if one is using Stripe for collecting payments online, that’s a worthwhile benefit it seems (that will pay for itself since the FoundersCard is around $600/$1500 per annum). Am I missing/misunderstanding anything here? Thanks for all the good info on this page!
Reply
- Jarrod West July 19, 2022
  Hi SA,
  Correct, your first $20k-$50k in payments would be fee-free depending on your status level.
  Reply
notbornyesterday November 11, 2022
So the Founder’s Card is basically a modern day coupon book. Odds are most “members” probably can use less than 10% of the offerings.
Reply
E.S. December 30, 2022
I got an offer for $295/year for 2 years, but must be pre-paid. I like the Caesar’s Diamond status benefit but the fine print reads: Diamond upgrade valid through January 31, 2023 for FoundersCard Members in good standing.
Considering they stay it may take up to 5 weeks to get the upgrade, I’m concerned this benefit might go away.
Reply
Andy January 6, 2023
How do you book a night on the Hilton website with Founders card rate? I don’t see any option on the website for Founders card member
Reply
- Jarrod West January 19, 2023
  Hi Andy,
  Did you enter your FoundersCard code on the Hilton website?
  Reply
Kris January 8, 2023
Looks like Cathay Pacific status is no longer an option
Reply
Brian January 19, 2023
So is the caesers diamond still a perk with the normal card? Or do you have to upgrade to elite to get this now?
Reply
- Carissa Rawson May 25, 2023
  It’s still a perk with the normal card!
  Reply
Michael Hart January 22, 2023
It really looks quite complex with all sorts of shadow pathways and dead end alleyways. You have to look at the fine print (e.g., Hertz – only for US members) each time, other things are only available if you upgrade (i.e., Elite status), benefits explained on other webpages are wrong (e.g., getting the Elite membership only provides a “Complimentary Companion Standard Membership” not another Elite membership, and only “upon renewal” according to their website. I signed up for the complimentary 1 year free subscription and had to provide my credit card information. Now when I go into my account, I can’t find anywhere a place where I can cancel the subscription, only a place where I can upgrade and provide them with more money. Sorry – but I get a complete bafflegab feeling about this service and I haven’t even used it yet.
Reply
- Lanika February 1, 2023
  I am glad you said this, I was just about to sign up for the free one year and now I am not going to! Especially after reading the comments.
  Reply
- Scott Barbrack February 25, 2023
  I entirely agree with your assessment Michael. For for me, when they tried to extend my membership the other day, my cc caught it and denied the charges.
  Reply
- Carissa Rawson May 25, 2023
  Hi Michael,
  Thanks for your comment. When the article was originally published it was possible to get the companion membership immediately. Founderscard has since changed the terms and we’ve updated the article accordingly.
  Reply

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